CJSL 2026–2027 Age Group Transition

CJSL 2026–2027 Age Group Transition

Club overview for the national transition from calendar-year age groups to the August 1 – July 31 seasonal-year model beginning Fall 2026.

Age Group Matrix

Beginning on August 1, 2026, all USYS competitions will use the August 1 – July 31 age grouping standard.

2026–2027 Seasonal Year Standard

All teams formed for the 2026/2027 seasonal year must be grouped based on these dates. When determining the age group for a season, the year in which the season ends should be used to determine the birth year.

Please note that the format “U” followed by an age means that age and younger.

Official Announcement: U.S. Youth Soccer Age Group Update

What Is Changing?

U.S. Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and American Youth Soccer Organization have announced a national change to how youth age groups will be formed beginning in Fall 2026.

Current Model

Calendar-Year Model
January 1 – December 31

→

New Model

Seasonal-Year Model
August 1 – July 31

Under this structure, players will be grouped based on birthdates that fall within the August 1 – July 31 seasonal window.

Why Is This Change Being Made?

Following national review and collaboration across governing bodies, the seasonal-year model was adopted to support players, clubs, and long-term development.

Academic Calendar Alignment

Align youth soccer more closely with the academic school calendar.

Player Retention

Support player retention and participation nationwide.

Developmental Grouping

Provide clearer developmental grouping for clubs and players.

National Alignment

Create stronger alignment across leagues and competitions nationwide.

This is a national policy change, not a CJSL-specific initiative.

What Does This Mean for CJSL Clubs?

Beginning with the 2026–2027 seasonal year, all CJSL teams will follow the August 1 – July 31 age group structure.

Registration: Teams will register under the August 1 – July 31 age group structure.
Division Placement: Teams will be placed into divisions based on the seasonal-year model.
Roster Eligibility: Updated roster eligibility standards will be tied to birthdate.
Official CJSL Resource: CJSL already maintains official age group charts for club reference. This page will remain the official resource for determining age eligibility.

CJSL Age Group Matrix

Insert the official CJSL age chart or matrix below.

Age Group Chart Placeholder

Replace this section with the official CJSL age group matrix image, chart, or embedded table for the 2026–2027 seasonal year.

Implementation Timeline

The current calendar-year structure remains in place through Spring 2026. The seasonal-year structure takes effect beginning Fall 2026.

Spring 2026 Current Structure

Calendar-Year Model Remains Active

The January 1 – December 31 age grouping structure remains active through Spring 2026 competition play.

Fall 2026 Transition Begins

Seasonal-Year Structure Takes Effect

The August 1 – July 31 seasonal-year structure officially takes effect for league registration, team formation, and competition eligibility.

2026–2027 League Operations

GotSport & Division Formation Updated

GotSport registration and CJSL division placement will reflect the updated national age grouping structure.

Why Is CJSL Required to Implement This?

CJSL operates under the governance structure of U.S. Youth Soccer and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association.

Age Group Formation

CJSL must align with national federation policies concerning age group formation.

Registration Standards

Player registration standards must follow national eligibility rules.

Competition Eligibility

Compliance ensures clubs remain eligible for sanctioned competitions.

State Cup Pathways

Alignment protects eligibility for State Cup and regional pathways.

Questions?

To ensure consistent communication, families should contact their Club Administrator first.

League-Related Questions

Club Administrators may direct league-level questions to CJSL.

Email: info@cjslsoccer.com

Age Group Matrix

Age Group 2025–26 Season
Born Between 		2026–27 Season
Born Between 		2027–28 Season
Born Between 		2028–29 Season
Born Between
U-7 Jan 1, 2019
–
Dec 31, 2019		 Aug 1, 2019
–
July 31, 2020		 Aug 1, 2020
–
July 31, 2021		 Aug 1, 2021
–
July 31, 2022
U-8 Jan 1, 2018
–
Dec 31, 2018		 Aug 1, 2018
–
July 31, 2019		 Aug 1, 2019
–
July 31, 2020		 Aug 1, 2020
–
July 31, 2021
U-9 Jan 1, 2017
–
Dec 31, 2017		 Aug 1, 2017
–
July 31, 2018		 Aug 1, 2018
–
July 31, 2019		 Aug 1, 2019
–
July 31, 2020
U-10 Jan 1, 2016
–
Dec 31, 2016		 Aug 1, 2016
–
July 31, 2017		 Aug 1, 2017
–
July 31, 2018		 Aug 1, 2018
–
July 31, 2019
U-11 Jan 1, 2015
–
Dec 31, 2015		 Aug 1, 2015
–
July 31, 2016		 Aug 1, 2016
–
July 31, 2017		 Aug 1, 2017
–
July 31, 2018
U-12 Jan 1, 2014
–
Dec 31, 2014		 Aug 1, 2014
–
July 31, 2015		 Aug 1, 2015
–
July 31, 2016		 Aug 1, 2016
–
July 31, 2017
U-13 Jan 1, 2013
–
Dec 31, 2013		 Aug 1, 2013
–
July 31, 2014		 Aug 1, 2014
–
July 31, 2015		 Aug 1, 2015
–
July 31, 2016
U-14 Jan 1, 2012
–
Dec 31, 2012		 Aug 1, 2012
–
July 31, 2013		 Aug 1, 2013
–
July 31, 2014		 Aug 1, 2014
–
July 31, 2015
U-15 Jan 1, 2011
–
Dec 31, 2011		 Aug 1, 2011
–
July 31, 2012		 Aug 1, 2012
–
July 31, 2013		 Aug 1, 2013
–
July 31, 2014
U-16 Jan 1, 2010
–
Dec 31, 2010		 Aug 1, 2010
–
July 31, 2011		 Aug 1, 2011
–
July 31, 2012		 Aug 1, 2012
–
July 31, 2013
U-17 Jan 1, 2009
–
Dec 31, 2009		 Aug 1, 2009
–
July 31, 2010		 Aug 1, 2010
–
July 31, 2011		 Aug 1, 2011
–
July 31, 2012
U-18 Jan 1, 2008
–
Dec 31, 2008		 Aug 1, 2008
–
July 31, 2009		 Aug 1, 2009
–
July 31, 2010		 Aug 1, 2010
–
July 31, 2011
U-19 Jan 1, 2007
–
Dec 31, 2007		 Aug 1, 2007
–
July 31, 2008		 Aug 1, 2008
–
July 31, 2009		 Aug 1, 2009
–
July 31, 2010

CJSL Player Placement Tool

The CJSL Player Placement Tool is designed to help clubs determine the correct age group placement for players using the official U.S. Youth Soccer (USYS) Age Group Matrix.

Player Placement Made Simple

By entering a player’s name, date of birth, and gender, the tool will automatically assign the appropriate age group based on the selected season, separate players by Boys and Girls, sort players alphabetically within each group, and display player counts per age group.

Tryout Planning Quickly organize players into the proper age groups during club tryouts.
Roster Planning Review player placement before building seasonal rosters.
Seasonal Transitions Helpful when preparing for updated USYS age formation guidelines.
Player Counts View total players by gender and age group for internal club review.

How to Use the Tool

1. Select the Season

Choose the appropriate season from the dropdown menu. The tool will apply the correct USYS age grouping model for that season.

2. Enter Player Information

Paste player information manually using this format: Name, MM/DD/YYYY, Gender (M/F). You may also drag and drop a CSV file formatted as: Name,DOB,Gender.

3. Click “Group Players”

The tool will determine the correct age group, organize players by gender and age group, sort players alphabetically, and display total player counts per group.

4. Export to Excel

Click “Export to Excel” to download a file grouped by Gender and Age Group for roster planning or internal club review.

CJSL Player Placement Tool

Official USYS Age Matrix Placement System

Total Players: 0
Drag & Drop CSV File (Name,DOB,Gender)
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